Hen&#39;s nest.



'Nm 718,197. PATENTBD JAN. 13, 1.903.

L. J. DU P REE.

-`HENS NEST. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 10, 1902. N0 MODEL.

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YUnire STATES ATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS J. DU PREF., OF GRIFFIN, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN T.AKING, OF GRIFFIN, GEORGIA.

HENS NEST.

IsPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 718,197, dated January13, 1903.

Application ileti November 10, 1902. Serial No.' 130,717. (No model.)

To all whom it may concer-rt:

Be it known that LLEWIS J. DU FREE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Griffin, in the county of Spalding and State of Georgia,have invented a new and useful Hens Nest, of which the following is aspecification. I

This invention relates to improvements in nests for setting hens, andhas for its object the production of an inclosed nest-box having apassage-way leading thereto and from which the nest-box is detachableand reversibleaud so constructed that the hen can pass freely to andfrom the nest-box and be protected from intrusion while upon the nest.

Another object of the invention is to produce a device which can betransformed into an automatic trap to prevent the escape of the hen.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction,ashereinaftershown and described, and specified in the claims following.

In the drawings illustrative of the invenz5" `tion, and in which similardesignating' characters will be employed to denote like parts in all thegures, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation viewed from oneside, and Fig. 2 is a similar view viewed from the opposite side. Fig. 3is a transverse section on the line III III of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a rearview of the lower portion of the device. Fig. 5 is a sectional detailillustrating the construction of the automatic closure and its operatingmechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the operating-bar.

In this device is comprised a runway having a movable closure at one endand with the base portion extended at the opposite end to form a supportfor a nest-box, the nestbox being reversible in position u ponV theextended base, and mechanism operative from within the runway wherebythe closure-may be operated by the hen in passing to and from thenest-box, whereby the hen will automatically close the door, and thus beprotected from intrusion while upon the nest.-

The closure-operating mechanism will be so constructed as toautomatically lock the door in its open position to prevent its beingaccidentally closed while the hen is oft the nest.

The runway will preferably be formed of open slatwork, or the frameworkmay be constructed of metal with the sides and top of open Wirescreening, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited in any manner tothe speciticgconstruction ofthe runway or its attach ments; but for thepurpose of illustration I have shown the Arunway formed of a solid basemember 10, extended at one end, as at 11,a`nd with slatted sides 12 andclosed top 13, this being-an approved construction and meeting therequirements of the device.

The nest-box is indicated at 14 and may be of any desired size and willbe preferably formed with depending sides adapted to embrace the edgesof the extended portion 11 and be thereby held in position laterallyrelative to the base member. The top 13 of the runway is extended overthe sloping roof 15 of the nest-box,.as shown, and with a holding-pin 39inserted through the overlapping .parts to provide a means for holdingthe nestbox detachably in position relative to the runway. By thissimple arrangement it will be obvious that the nest-box may be readilydetached from the runway and reversed in position or with the open side16 of the nestbox outward to enable the hen to obtain access to thenest-box without passing through the runway. This is an importantfeature of the invention, as it provides for setting the henindependently of the runway at the beginning of her setting period, andwhen she becomes accustomed to the nest the nestbox may be reversed, sothat access thereto may be obtained only through the runway; but by thistime the hen will be so accustomed to her nest as to find her way to itthrough the runway, and thereafter will leave-the nest and return to itwhenever she so desires.`

Movably attached to the inlet end of the runway isa movable closure,preferably in the form of a slatted door or gatev17, connected to therunway by hinges 18 of any suitable construction.

Extending from the closure 17, preferably near the hinge side, is a'pin19, with which one end of an operating-bar 20 is movably IOO engaged, asshown, the bar extending inwardly and provided with a notch 21 near itsinner end adapted to engage a pin 22,project ing from the side of therunway, and thus hold the closure 17 locked in its open position.

The bar 2O will be provided with a longitudinal slot 23 and an inclinedunder surface 24 opposite the slot, as indicated.

Within the lower part of the runway a platform25 is centrally supported,as by a pivot 2G, so that it will tilt vertically, and is provided withan arm 27, extending upwardly therefrom, and provided with a shoulder28, adapted to engage the inclined surface 24 when the platform 25 istilted with its outer end upward, as shown in Fig. 2, the arm 27provided with an extended portion 29, movably engaging the slot 23 andextending through it, as shown. The extension 29 is considerablynarrower than the length of the slot 23, so that the part 29 will movesome distance longitudinally of the slot before it contacts with theends of the slot, as will be obvious. By this simple arrangement whenthe platform 25 is tilted with its outer end downward the bar 20 willnot be disturbed, but will be in position to lock the closure 17 in itsopen position by reason of the engagement of the bar with the pin 22, asbefore noted. By this means the door cannot be accidently closed whilethe platform and its attachments are in the opposite relative positionsto those shown in Fig. 2, which will be the positions the parts willoccupy when the hen is off the nest.

When the hen returns to the nest, in passing through the runway shewalks upon the platform 25 and tilts it in its opposite position, thisaction causing the shoulder 28 upon the arm 27 to first elevate the rearend of the arm 2O and release the notch 2l from the pin 22, and thenwhen the part 29 has traveled throughout the length of the slot 23 itwill engage the outer end of the slot or the end toward the nest-bex anddraw the bar 2O longitudinally and close the door 17. By thus formingthe slot 23 somewhat longer than the width of the part 29 the latterwill move a sufficient distance longitudinally of the bar before itmoves the bar longitudinally, so that the bar will be released from thepin 22 before it begins to act upon the door 17, the necessity for thisaction being obvious.

Upon the opposite side of the runway from the bar 20 and arm 27 agravity latch-lever 30 is pivotally supported at 3l,the pivot-pointbeing nearer the lower end than the upper end, so that the latch-barwill remain normally with its upper end in its lowermost position.

A stop 32 will be located upon the runway in position to limit thedownward movement of the latch-bar.

The latch-bar will be provided with a notch 33, adapted to engage acatch 34 upon the closure 17, and thus serve to lock the closure in itsclosed position.

The shorter lower end of the latch-bar will be engaged bya movablebutton 35 upon the platform 25 and adapted to throw the latchbar whenthe platform is tilted downward at the outer end. By this arrangementwhen the platform 25 is tilted with its inner end downward, or when thehen is upon hernest, the button 35 will not engage the latch-bar.Consequently the latch-bar will be in engagement with the catch 34 andlock the closure 37 shut, and thus prevent access to the nest andprotect the hen from intrusion.

Vhen the hen leaves the nest and Walks upon the platform 25, she willtilt its outer end downward and cause the button 35 to depress the lowerend of the latch-bar and release its upper end from the catch 34,leaving the closure free to be opened. It will be noted that the firstmovement of the arm 27 when the platform is being tilted by its .outwardend will cause the portion 29 to travel harmlessly through the slot 23or without producing any effect upon the arm 20 further than to causethe shoulder 28 to pass beneath the inclined portion 24 and permit thebar 2O to drop downward, so that by the time the part 29 reaches the endof the slot 23 the arm 2O will be in position with the notch 21 abovethe pin 22 and engaged therewith to lock the closure 17 in its openposition, as above noted. By this simple arrangement the whole operationis automatic and all the parts operated by the passage of the heu to andfrom her nest, and the movements will be so slight that the hen will notbe disturbed or frightened by any of the movements.

The button member 35 is easily reversible in position, and the shape ofthe outer end 36 of the latch-bar 30 will be inclined to a degreesufficient to cause the catch 34 to pass beneath it and engage the notch33 automatically when the door is closed, and it will be obvious,therefore, that if the button member 35 be turned longitudinally of theplatform 25 out of the path of the bar 30 the tilting of the outer endof the platform will not release the lock-bar 30, so that the devicebecomes a trap to prevent the hen escaping therefrom when desired. Thisis an important feature of the invention and enables the device to betransformed into a trap very quickly when so desired.

It will be obvious that the button member may be actuated through theopen slotted sides of the runway.

The elongated slot 23 is an important feature of the invention andinsures the coaction of the parts without binding and effectuallyprevents the interference of one part with the other. By this simplearrangement the hen in passing into the nest tilts the platform 25 inone direction and closes the door behind her, this action releasing thelatchbar 30 and automatically locking the door in ICO IIO

its closed position, as before described, and thus effectuallyprotecting the henfrom intrusion while upon the nest.

When the hen desires to leave the nest, the movement of the platformwill be reversed, causing the button 35 to first release the lockingmeans and then causing the arm 27 to actuate the bar 20 and open thedoor and at the same time locking it in its open position, so that itcannot be accidentally closed while the hen is off the nest.

If it is desired to gain access to the hen While upon the nest, thesimple removal of the pin 39 releases the nest-box and enables it to beremoved and lifted bodily from the portion ll. By this means the nestmaterial (indicated at 38) may be renewed at any time and the nest-boxfumigated or otherwise cleansed when required.

The runway being formed of open-work is easily accessible at all pointsfor cleansing or fumigation and also permits the free circulation ofair.

The device, as before stated, may be constructed of any desired size andof any suitable material and may be modified in minor particularswithout departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing anyof its advantages, and I therefore reserve the right to suchmodifications in the structure as may come within the scope of theclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In a hensnest, a base member, a nestbox having one side open and reversiblysupported upon said base member, a runway upon said base member andleading to said nest-box, a movable closure to said runway, and meansoperative by the hen in moving through said runway for actuating saidclosure, substantially as described.

2. In a hens nest, a runway having open ends, a nest-box having one sideopen and engaging one end of said runway and reversibly disposedrelative thereto, a closure movably connected to the opposite end ofsaid runway, and means operative by the hen in moving through saidrunway for actuating said closure, substantially as described.

3. In a hens nest, a runway open at the ends land having a base memberextended beyond one of said open ends, a nest-box having one open sideand reversibly disposed upon said extension in engagement with theadjacent end of said runway, a closure movably engaging the opposite endof said runway, and means within said runway operative by the hen inmoving therethrough for actuating said closure, substantially asdescribed. l

4. In a hens nest, a runway open at the ends and having a base memberextended beyond one of said open ends, a nest-box having one side openand reversibly disposed upon said base extension in engagement with theadjacent end of said runway, a closure movably engaging the opposite endof said runway, a tilting platform within said runway and having an armextending therefrom, and a connecting-rod between said arm and saidclosure, whereby the movement of the hen alternately through said runwaywill likewise alternately actuate said closure, substantially asdescribed.

5. A hens nest comprising a nest-box, a runway for the hen to and fromsaid nest-box, means for detachably connecting said nestbox to one endof said runway, a closure movably connected to the opposite end of saidrunway, a tilting platform located within said runway between saidnest-box and closure, and means for operatively connecting said platformand closure, whereby the passage of the hen alternately through saidrunway will correspondingly actuate said closure, substantially asdescribed.

6. A hens nest comprising a nest-box, a runway for the hen to and fromsaid nest-box, means for detachably connecting said nestbox to one endof said runway, a closure movablyconnected to the opposite end of saidrunway, a`tilting platform located within said runway between saidnest-box and closure,

an arm extending from said platform, and a connecting-rod between saidarm and said closure, whereby the passage of the hen alternately throughsaid runway will likewise alternately tilt said platform and cause saidvclosure to be correspondingly alternately actuated, substantially asdescribed.

7. A hens nest comprising a nest-box, a runway leading to and from saidnest-box, a swinging door forming a movable closure to said runway, atilting platform located Within said runway and having an arm extendingtherefrom, a rod movably connected by one end to said door relativelynear its hinges and provided with a longitudinal slot at the other endmovably engaged by said extended arm, whereby the passage of the henalternately through said runway will likewise alternately tilt saidplatform and correspondingly move said arm and cause it to engage saidconnecting-rod near the ends of its stroke and thereby actuate saidclosure only at the ends of the movement of the platform and arm,substantially as described.

8. A hens nest comprising a nest-box, a runway leading to and from saidnest-box, a swinging door forming a movable closure t'o said runway, atilting platform located within said runway and having an arm extendingtherefrom, a rod movably connected by one end tol said closure andrelatively near its hinges, and provided with a longitudinal slotmovably engaged by said extended arm, a latch-bar adapted to movablyengage a catch on said closure, and means carried by said platform andengaging said catch-lever to cause it to release said closure at theinitial outward movement of said platform, whereby the passage of thehen will tilt said platform and actuate said latch-bar at the firstportion of the movement of said platform to release IOO ' ably engaginga stationary pin when said closure is in its open position,operativemeans carried by said platform and adapted to release said rod andactuate said closure by the tilting action of the platform caused by thepassage of the hen alternately through said runway, substantially asdescribed.

lO. In a hens nest, a runway having open ends, a nest-box supportedopposite one end of said runway, a closure movably connected to theopposite end of said runway, a tilting platform within said runway, arod having an inclined surface and movably connected by one end to saidclosure and likewise movably engaging a stationary pin when said closureis in its open position, an arm extending from said tilting platform andengaging the inclined surface of said rod, means whereby the movement ofsaid arm will operatively engage said rod only when near the oppositeends of its stroke, to cause the initial movement of said tiltingplatform and arm to operatively engage said inclined surface and detachsaid rod from said pin, and thus release said closure before said rod iscaused to actuate said closure, substantially as described.

ll. In a hens nest, a runway, a nest-box supported opposite one end ofsaid runway, a closure movably connected to the opposite end of saidrunway, a tilting platform within said runway, a rod having an inclinedsurface and movably connected by one end to said closure and likewisemovably engaging a stationary pin when said closure is in its openposition and provided with a longitudinal slot, an arm extending fromsaid tilting platform and provided with a shoulder engaging saidinclined surface and with an extension passing through said slot,whereby the alternate passage of the hen through said runway willlikewise alternately tilt said platform and cause said shoulder andeXtension upon said arm to detach said rod from said pin and releasesaid closure before said rod is caused to actuate said closure,substantially as described.

l2. In a hens nest, a runway, a nest-box supported opposite one end ofsaid runway, a closure movably connected to the opposite end of saidrunway, a tilting platform within said runway, a latch-bar movablyconnected to said runway, a catch upon said closure adapted to bemovablyconnected to said latchba r, and a catch member carried by saidplatform and adapted to be moved into the path l LEVIS J. DU FREE.

Witnesses:

W. T. HALE, W. E. FUTRAL.

